LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A major milestone for one of Kentucky’s largest hospitals. Today UofL Hospital in Louisville celebrates its bicentennial. It’s 200th birthday.
In its original iteration, the Louisville Marine Hospital aided sailors traveling along the Ohio River. Today it’s transformed into much more.
“For all the nurses, all the clinicians that are here, all the workers in this hospital, the work in the clinical care environment for all the people that supported the firsts that this hospital has seen, I want to say thank you for your efforts,” Dr. Jason Smith, UofL Chief Medical Officer said. “You are the reason we are here. You are the reason we will keep going.”
Dr. Smith added what’s made the hospital so special is the people that work within its walls.
“They have walked into situations that you couldn’t imagine and they have done it with aplomb. They have done it hand in hand with each other in order to support this community,” Dr. Smith said.
The hospital has evolved and changed names many times over the years. It was also home to several firsts.
In 1954, it hired its first two Black physicians and had its first Black nursing student a year later. In recent years, it’s become the first stroke center and first burn center in the state.
“To each of the doctors, nurses and staff, everybody who works in any of these buildings. Thank you. Health care is a basic human right. Not just if you live in the right zip code, not just if you’re in the right tax bracket,” Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said. “Health care is a human right for everyone, and you all are the practitioners that make sure that anyone who walks through these doors gets the very best no matter what.”
With a $182 million expansion underway, the hospital shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.